The Commission on Audit (COA) cautioned the National Food Authority (NFA) under the term of NFA Chief Jason Aquino regarding the “irregular, unnecessary, extravagant, excessive and unconscionable” use of government funds after it found out that NFA officials violated rules on spending for foreign trips.A staggering amount of over P2 million was spent by NFA on travels abroad in 2017 which is a 200% increase from its budget in 2016 which COA underscores as a violation of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Budget Circular (BC) No. 2017-5 dated December 11, 2017 mandating the judicious and prudent use of government funds.

The anomalies include NFA sending out four officials to the same international trip for world junket meetings in 2017 when they are only allowed to send two officials.

National Food Authority | Photo from RMN

NFA also spent P1.392 million for the international trips of three officials who are set to retire within a year from the date of their travels which COA states as a violation of government rules.DBM provides that “no official or employee will be sent to foreign training, conferencesor attend international commitments when they are due to retire within one year after the said foreign travel.”Those officials due to retire within a year of their travel date in 2017 were Deputy Administrator for Finance and Administration who retired in May 7, 2017; Division Chief Grains Marketing Operations who retired in February 18, 2018; and the Deputy Administrator for Finance and Administration who retired in June 24, 2018.

National Food Authority | Photo from RMN

Aquino reasoned that these trips were necessary as they are part of NFA’s commitment and responsibility to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and ASEAN Summit, and that all officials who were sent are “the most competent and trained to attend such conferences abroad.”

COA also noted a P526,000 discrepancy between what the NFA reported and used in their travel liquidations.

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